Photo from Space of the Largest Human Gathering in India

The largest human gathering ever has been photographed from space by a high resolution imaging satellite.

Over 70 million people are expected to attend a Hindu spiritual event in northern India called the Maha Kumbh Mela. The pilgrims gather at a sacred location on the Ganges River, 15 kilometres from Allahabad, for more than a month of bathing rituals. The activities are intended to wash away their sins and hasten the Hindu people's progress toward nirvana.

Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations in Indian citiies, Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Each twelve-year cycle includes one Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela at Prayag, which is attended by millions of people, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world. This photo was taken by IKONOS Space Satellite. The Picture shows the Red robed bathers at the confluence of three Major rivers, Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati. All the three rivers are considered sacred in Hindu Mythology. The next Maha Kumbh Mela is going to take place in 2007. People from various countries also participate and they expect a crow of 70 Million people for this festival.